A Monthly Publication of the APRIL 2017 Volume 57, Number 4
AT A GLANCE... Business After Hours . . . . . . . . . . April 6 COMCARE 2090 S. Ohio, 5-7pm Project Open Classes . . . . . . . . April 20 Salina Area Chamber of Commerce 120 W. Ash Business After Hours . . . . . . . . . April 20 Innovative Flooring 1503 S. Ninth St, 5-7pm Details inside!
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DESTINATION SALINA VISIT SALINA WORKS WITH PARTNERS TO SELL SALINA
PASS IT ON! See page 4
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Human Resources Communications Sales Staff Break Area
SDI AND CHAMBER
Downtown News By Penny Bettles, Salina Downtown, Inc. pbettles@salinadowntown.com • 825-0535
FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE #artwalkedition
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Connection (USPS 478-100) is published monthly by the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, 120 W. Ash, Salina, Kansas 67401. Periodical Postage paid at Salina, Kansas. Subscription rate to members is $1.25 per year. Sylvia A. Rice, Editor. Consolidated Printing, layout and design. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Chamber Connection, PO Box 586, Salina, KS 67402-0586.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN Guy Walker Blue Beacon International VICE CHAIRMAN Dr. Matt Thompson Kansas Wesleyan University CHAIR-ELECT Mark Ritter Crown Distributors, LLC TREASURER Joyce Volk Joyce Volk Insurance Agency, Inc. PAST CHAIRMAN Brian Richardson Occupational Performance Corporation PRESIDENT/CEO Don L. Weiser Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Debra Blomquist Accessible Home Care, LLC Brandon Ebert Waddell & Reed, Ebert-Stein Group Scott Eck Philips Lighting Dr. Verna Fitzsimmons Kansas State University Polytechnic M. Olaf Frandsen Salina Journal Julie Goetz Salina Regional Health Center Dave Hiechel Eagle Technologies Brandon Hughes Harbin Construction Peter Johnston Clark, Mize & Linville, Chtd. Tina Bartlett Salina Housing Authority Dahx Marrs Marymount Properties, Techniqol Consulting, Kansas Bankers Technologies LuAnn Puvogel Salina Surgical Hospital Michael Spicer Salina Community Theatre Ron Stratman Accurate Electric, Inc. Barb Young Triad Manufacturing Mark Zimmerman Salina Supply Company
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What does FIRST Friday Night Live #artwalkedition mean? It means you can come downtown and shop late (many retailers open until 7:00 P.M.), browse the art displayed in many downtown establishments, and grab a bite to eat, ALL before your Friday Night Live entertainment!
April 7th First Friday Night Live #artwalkedition in downtown Salina The Flower Nook
204 E. Iron Street 4:00-7:00 PM Stop by The Flower Nook’s art exhibit featuring John E. Epic and Isaiah Marcotte. Plus, meet artisan Maddy with her all new natural product line: Made from Scratch Mama!
Streit Sandblasting
116 E. Iron Street 5:30-8:00 PM Ethan Campbell, from Apt#12 Studios, who will be creating unique patterns and textures on available items with his hydro-dipping technique. Most items dipped will be available for purchase, once they have dried. Ethan will also be taking custom orders while on site.
Peaceful Body Wellness Retreat
120 N. Santa Fe 5:00-7:00 PM Three generations art show and artist reception! Celebrating three generations of artists in one family: Katy England, Kegan England, and Kristy Yenkey
Spring Spruce Up April 22nd, 2017 Salina’s annual spring community clean-up day! Committed to improving our community, volunteers will work together on Saturday, April 22 in several locations throughout Salina; including downtown! Watch our Facebook page for more information on the downtown projects and how you can volunteer!
CHAMBER NEWS
Project Open Announces April Class Schedule
Follow the Salina Chamber and Visit Salina on Facebook.
Three Project Open classes will be presented Thursday, April 20.
• “Meeting The Three M’s - Learning the Basics of Money, Marketing and Management” 9:30am - 11:30am - Visit the Chamber’s website to register • •
“The Right Start - Using a Business Plan” 12:00pm - 2:00pm - Visit the Chamber’s website to register “Cash Flow Made Easy” 2:30pm - 4:30pm - Visit the Chamber’s website to register
All courses are held at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, 120 W. Ash Street, and are taught by Linda Sutton of LRS Consulting. Linda has more than a decade of experience regarding small business development and has previously worked for the Kansas Small Business Development Organization. The courses are also a prerequisite for continuing in the Project Open process and the classes can be completed all at once or over several months, depending on your schedule. Have questions? Contact Eric Brown at the Chamber, ebrown@salinakansas.org or (785) 827-9301.
City Commission to Consider Update to Sign Ordinance A proposed sign ordinance amends Salina Code regarding temporary signs in response to the recent U.S. Supreme Court unanimous decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert, AZ 2015 WL 2473374, that with a few exceptions, sign regulations cannot vary based on the type of information a sign conveys. The current sign ordinance regulates signs based on physical characteristics: number, height and size, location, zoning district, lighting, portability, materials, duration and distance from residential areas or other. The current sign regulations vary by category – political, real estate, general advertising, business identification, etc. – each defined by the type of information conveyed. The proposed amendment would apply these existing physical characteristics (above) to temporary signs, without regard to the sign message or content. For example, in residential districts, signs displaying a real estate, campaign or other message would fall under temporary yard sign. Certain types have been eliminated based on message, and are now classified based on physical characteristics. The proposed amendment allows businesses to put out feather flags and inflatable signs for promotion. • April 3 City Commission Study Session • April 10 City Commission to Vote on Amendments • April 21 Sign Ordinance Amendments go into Effect Share comments and questions by email: dean.andrew@salina.org; dustin.herrs@salina.org See draft at: weblink.salina.org/weblink8/Browse.aspx?startid=176900&dbid=0 3
CHAMBER NEWS
Destination Salina - Visit Salina works with partners to sell Salina The mission and goal of Visit Salina is to promote, to sell, Salina as a destination, specifically to generate overnight hotel stays. Our central location strategically places us in the drive market - families and couples traveling, motor coaches, and business travelers. When combined with Salina’s other assets, including great venues, hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions, it also creates the perfect site for sports and special events, for conventions and meetings. The Visit Salina staff is comprised of: Andi Pahl, our Administrative Assistant; Allison Webb, our ‘social media guru’; Kyle Weiser and Tiffany Benien handle the sports and special events market; Jo Ann McClure represents us in the meetings, conventions, and military markets. Sylvia Rice is the Visit Salina Director, handling the leisure market, advertising, marketing, administration, research and overseeing the staff. So, how DO we sell “Destination Salina?” In each market, we use diverse approaches to promote our community, through multi-media advertising (print, broadcast and digital); billboards, attending trade shows and marketplaces, researching event RFPs (Requests for Proposals) looking for opportunities. But Visit Salina is just ONE piece of the puzzle. Our partner agencies and businesses are the true stars of the Destination Salina Team. Salina has unique venues like Tony’s Pizza Events Center, Webster Conference Center,
CONGRATULATIONS
Rolling Hills Conference Center, and more. We currently have 30+ lodging facilities with 2,100+ accommodations, many also with convening space. Soon, we’ll have the Hilton Garden Inn & Convention Center enter the market which will greatly enhance Salina’s appeal to meeting planners. Our parks facilities like Oakdale Park, Dean Evans Stadium, Bill Burke Park, Kenwood Park and soon the new downtown Fieldhouse are essential to attract Sports and Special Events, a market that involves a lot more than teams. With youth sports you have entire families coming to stay. Qualifying or Championship events involve media and often recruiters. An incredibly important piece to the Destination Salina puzzle is the cadre of dedicated volunteers who support these events in many capacities. Staff works hand in hand with all these partners to identify potential business, and create an attractive and ultimately successful proposal for them to choose Salina as their Destination. That is a win for everyone, as those NEW dollars flow into our economy. Many of our successes are ‘home grown’ or come from a local contact. If you have an opportunity for us to look at – a sports tournament, a convention, or other event that creates overnight hotel stays – come see us! A strong local presence is a huge asset, and that could be YOU! Reach us at (785) 827-9301.
Visit Salina presents Tammy Surface, Assistant General Manager of Quality Inn & Suites, with $50 in Smoky Hill Silver. Hotels that participate in our monthly Room Pick-up Reports are eligible for a monthly drawing. Thanks to the staff at Quality Inn & Suites for being great guest service providers, and GREAT Visit Salina partners! Seen here with Tammy (second from right) are Visit Salina staffers Kyle Weiser, Sylvia Rice and Jo Ann McClure.
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Always prospecting Are you a member of an association or organization that would consider meeting in Salina? Visit Salina would love to prepare a proposal for you! We can do your legwork in contacting appropriate venues, making suggestions for off-site activities, and preparing a service package, customized to your needs. Find out more by contacting Jo Ann McClure at the Chamber’s Visit Salina office, jmcclure@salinakansas.org or (785)827-9310, x 126.
VISIT SALINA
Good Sports
Two NEW events have been announced for the coming months!
The Salina Comic Con Visit Salina is pleased to announce the first ever Salina Comic Con to be held at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center, in Heritage Hall June 17-18. The event will feature comics, toys, cards (both sports and non-sports) artwork and much more! Local and several out of state vendors will be there buying, selling and trading. At the show there might be a celebrity or two attending as well. Clint Randolph, Owner and Organizer of Salina Comic Con, grew up in Salina. He has lived in several places and hosted comic con events for the past several years. His last event in Colorado Springs had more than 3,000 people through the doors with more than 100 vendors, and several celebrities. “Now I’m bringing it home!” says Clint. “I have several things in the planning stages of this event and you’ll want to keep checking our website and other promotions as we develop this Salina show. My hope is that this will become an annual event, a tradition in Salina as have some of my other shows in Colorado. If you’re familiar with the San Diego Comic Con International Show that’s in its 48th consecutive year, you know the potential to grow this event is huge!” Tickets for the show are $7 in advance and $10 at the door with kids 8 & under free! Show hours are 10am until 6pm both days. It’s traditional for Comic Con attendees to dress up, but several will attend in normal attire as well. For more information about Salina Comic Con: Online: www.SalinaComicCon.com , E-mail: SalinaComicCon@yahoo.com , Like: Salina Comic Con as an Event on Facebook Tickets: On sale March 24 at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center If you’re interested in being a vendor or if you’ll like to find out about sponsorship opportunities please contact Clint at (913) 961-4347.
Champions Throwdown at the Temple Visit Salina is pleased to welcome the Champions Throwdown at the Temple event. Promoters David Rine of Revolution Cage Warrior Challenge and Matt Ludwick of Conquest Promotions are proud to bring you this mixed martial arts competition. A projected 30 athletes are set to compete in the Champions Throwdown at the Temple held on June 3, 2017 at the Masonic Temple. At least 15 professional bouts will take place. In addition, kickboxing matches will likely be included with admission. Participants will be coming from all over the Midwest United States. Matt Ludwick is excited about the event, “We are a faith based promotions company that is promoting a Mixed Martial Arts event in Salina at the Temple. Our shows are professional and include prayer with like-minded athletes who share our philosophy. I’m really looking forward to sharing more about the talent that will be competing. The show will be very entertaining. I’ve brought shows to Garden City, Dodge City, Morganville, Liberal, Ark City, Colby, Elkhart and Ottawa, but this will be the first time for our show in Salina Kansas, and I can’t wait to host a show at the Masonic Temple!” Ticket prices will vary pending sponsorships and other marketing efforts. It is likely that top seats will be $20, second level $30 and main floor $40. VIP tables will be available for purchase as well. Matt Ludwick will continually update information as it gets closer to the event. To become a sponsor or for more information contact: Matt Ludwick, Conquests Promotions • E-mail: mattludwick@hotmail.com Phone: 785.269.7069 • Website: http://mattludwick.wixsite.com/conquestpromotions
MarqueeWelcomes April 1
Salina Coin & Stamp Show
April
Battle of the Bats Youth Baseball Tournament
April 7
MMA “Throwdown at the Temple”
April 8
Salina Slugfest Baseball Tournament
April 18
KS Assoc of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals
April 21-23
ISIS Shrine Circus
April 26
KS Assoc of Code Enforcement
April 29
BBBS Glow in the Park 5K & 1M Runs
April
Sharp Performance Combine Prep Clinic
Dollars Sense Recent groups Visit Salina worked with and the estimated visitors’ spending they created in the community:
KSHSAA 4A Div I State Basketball $436,610 KS Electric Cooperative $17,992 KS Technology Student Association $53,480 Kansas Association of Code Enforcement and Heart of America Building Officials will meet at Tony’s Pizza Events Center the week of April 24. More than 150 convention delegates are expected to attend the event. KS Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals will meet at the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center for their annual Spring convention. Convention delegates will be in Salina on April 19 through 21 with an expected attendance of 120.
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MEMBERSHIP NEWS
In The News The management structure for the new HILTON GARDEN INN AND CONVENTION CENTER, 3320 South Ninth Street, has been announced by S&B Motels. Michelle Jensen will serve as General Manager for the facility. Joining Michelle are: Nicholyn Strome, Assistant General Manager; Dana Bronson, Director of Sales; Gala Bloyd, Sales Manager; Angela Snapp, Director of Convention Services; Sean Donohue, Executive Chef/ Food & Beverage Director; and Jessica Granados, Housekeeping Manager. The 90+ room hotel features 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and full food and beverage service. The facility is slated to be open by early summer, but prior to opening staff may be contacted via the Hampton Inn at (785) 823-9800. GOT NEWS? Do you have news to share about your business or organization? Email srice@salinakansas.org and we’ll publish it in an upcoming issue of Chamber Connection. OCCK/CITYGO spans the city from North to South and East to West with five routes, noted by colors on route maps and bus stops: red, blue, yellow, green and purple. Service runs from 6am to 9pm, Monday through Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturday, with more than 200 fixed bus stops citywide, plus two areas designated as “Wave and Ride”. Fares for the CityGo buses are $1 for a Single-Trip Pass (recommended for one-way trips), $2 for a Day Pass (recommended for round trips and transfers), $5 for a 6-Trip Ticket Book, and $35 for a Monthly Pass. Children 10 and under ride free with a fare paying adult. Visit www. salinacitygo.com to learn more. DARAN NEUSCHAFER, DARAN NEUSCHAFER AGENCY-AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE, 1528 E. Iron, has been recognized for providing an outstanding customer experience, under the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification program. The distinction was determined through an evaluation process that included a customer survey.
BROWN & VOGEL, CHARTERED, 2035 E. Iron, Suite 101, has announced that Nick Puckett is a new partner in the firm. He has been with the firm since 2013 and became a licensed attorney in 2015. With his promotion, the firm has been renamed BROWN PUCKETT VOGEL, LLC. HOUSEMASTER HOME INSPECTION, 1925 Roach, has announced that John Elmore has joined the business as marketing manager. Elmore will act as a liaison to local real estate agents, brokers and offices, and will assemble and distribute marketing collateral and communications. Financial services firm EDWARD JONES ranks No. 5 on the 2017 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list in its 18th appearance on the prestigious list, according to global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work® and Fortune magazine. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Edward Jones’ 18 Fortune rankings also include top 10 finishes for 14 years, top 5 rankings for seven years and consecutive No. 1 rankings in 2002 and 2003. Last year, the firm ranked No. 10 overall. In Salina, Tom Dill, Financial Advisor, EDWARD JONES at 1502 E. Iron Avenue, can be reached for more information, (785) 823-5133.
New Members DAVID MARTIN Independent Marketing Consultant (785) 822-8795 • dwmartin711@yahoo.com PEACEFUL BODY AND WELLNESS RETREAT, LLC 120 N. Santa Fe • Gary Martens, Larry Bunker (785) 823-1938 peacefulbodywellnessretreat@gmail.com NEW COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH 530 E. Cloud • Mike Willich (785) 823-2214 • mike@newcommunitycc.org STATE FARM INSURANCE 122 N. Santa Fe • Bill Roberts (785) 827-1701 • bill.roberts.e1eo@statefarm.com BEST CHINESE MASSAGE 1803 S. Ninth • Jin Hu (785) 404-2626 • Jadetree2016@gmail.com K-4 GARAGE 715 Maple St., Gypsum, KS • Nick Trout (785) 822-7896 • K4garage@yahoo.com
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Meet Chamber Members AV Plank, Bob Yates and Jeff Parker, Owners of 1st Choice Security as you read excerpts from our 5-minute/ 5-question interview. Can you please give us a three sentence summary of your personal background? Our ownership team (AV Plank, Bob Yates and Jeff Parker) has lived and supported the Salina area for more than 30 years, we’ve served in many civic and leadership roles including professionally as law enforcement and military. Following retirement we all still had the desire to provide service from the security aspect; thus, we founded 1st Choice Security in 2014. See the entire interview, and others, posted at www.salinakansas.org/ chamber/take_5.aspx Want to be interviewed about your business? Contact info@salinakansas.org!
Ambassador of the Month
Steve Murrison, Principal, Business Consultant of Murrison Group, has been named “Ambassador of the Month” for March. This is Steve’s first year Steve Murrison as an Ambassador and he has already secured three new members. “It’s been great to have Steve join the Ambassadors. He represents our organization well, and is doing a great job already,” commented Don Weiser, Chamber President/CEO. For his efforts, Steve will receive a $25 Smoky Hill Silver Gift Certificate. Congratulations Steve!
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
Ribbon Cuttings
These Chamber member businesses celebrated recent milestones with an official Chamber Ribbon Cutting
Chick-fil-A, 2245 S. Ninth Street, celebrated their Grand Opening. Welcome to Salina!
Interested in meeting with Chamber board members and staff to chat about your business? Email hmorrical@salinakansas.org or call Hayley at (785) 827-9301 to attend the next Twelve@12 session. At each monthly Twelve@12, 12 Chamber member business representatives have lunch, on us, with Chamber board and staff members to talk about the good, bad, and upcoming in their business and Salina. It is a great opportunity to tell the Chamber how we can better serve your business, as well as a chance to learn more about Chamber programs!
The JCPenney store at Central Mall, 2259 S. Ninth, celebrated 100 years in Salina! Congratulations!
Check out this GREAT news from Great Lakes Airlines and Salina Airport Authority! In the ten months of non-stop service between Salina and Denver, passengers have traveled from 36 Kansas counties to Fly Salina, a number that is up from 17 at the start of Denver flights. As we near the end of March, the airline will exceed 710 passenger enplanements (over 1,400 passengers) for the month. The previous best month was December 2016 when Great Lakes boarded 692 passengers. Great Lakes and Denver flights continue to exceed initial estimates! Remember to Fly Salina! 7
BUSINESS HOURS
PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID SALINA, KS 67401 120 W. Ash, P.O. Box 586 • Salina, KS 67402-0586 785-827-9301 • fx 785-827-9758 • www.salinakansas.org
REFRESHMENTS • TOURS • DOOR PRIZES
HELP US KEEP YOUR ADDRESS CORRECT If address is wrong in any respect, please correct directly on the label and return to Chamber of Commerce. Thank You!
COMCARE 2090 S. Ohio
Thursday, April 6 5-7pm • $5 per person or Fast Pass To better serve the growing needs of patients and families in Salina and surrounding communities, COMCARE opened a new facility on the corner of Belmont and Ohio. Physicians and staff from COMCARE on Elm St. moved into their new location this past December. The move included its state-of-the-art imaging center and lab. They look forward to serving your family’s health care needs at their new facility.
Innovative Flooring 1503 S. Ninth St.
Thursday, April 20 5-7pm • $5 per person or Fast Pass Innovative Flooring sells carpet, tile, vinyl and hardwood. Our goal is to help our customers find their dream flooring. We also do backsplashes and custom showers. And for those hard to make decisions, we have an interior decorator on call. So come on in and check out the innovative options available to make your interior decorating dreams come true. Come on out, network with fellow Chamber members and discover all that COMCARE and Innovative Flooring offer. For reservations call (785) 827-9301 or email: dsmith@salinakansas.org.
For reservations call 827-9301 or email dsmith@salinakansas.org DOOR PRIZES (MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN) $100 CASH ATTENDANCE DRAWING $500, $500, $1,000 MEMBERSHIP DRAWINGS
$ It Pays to Attend $
Dave Freeland, CPA won $500 at the Little Lambs Preschool Business After Hours in March. Here he is presented a ceremonial $500 Dave Freeland check by Hank Boyer, Chamber Hospitality Committee.
Check it out at http://www.salinakansasyp.com
SAYP April Update
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April 2: Indoor Lawn Olympics, Quality Inn & Suites, 4pm
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April 19: Self-defense with Brian Kinnard, KWU SAC, 5:30-7:30pm
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April 27: Lunch Club, Mokas, Noon
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April 29: Volunteering for Relay for Life
For more information on these, and other upcoming SAYP events, please visit www.salinakansasyp.com, Like them on Facebook, or email yp@salinakansas.org. We can’t wait to see you there! 2017 “Business After Hours” Fast Pass is on sale now! For $30, the pass will gain you admittance to all Chamber After Hour events throughout the year. To order your 2017 Fast Pass, contact Delta at the Chamber office, 827-9301 or email dbryant@salinakansas.org